The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-27
A WILD MONTANA story.
A Scouts Periious Adventure in the Wolf
Country.

n
Country.
San Francisco Examiner.
II read with considerable interest the report
| in the Examiner of the pigeon shooting match be-
| tween DR.. Carver and Graham, the English
| champion" said gentleman from the North TO
| reporter yesterday. But as interesting as
| imagine the match was. do not believe IL was
| so absorbingly one witnessed between DIR.
| Carver and Vic Smith or Yellowstone Vic, as he
was called. 1t took place last July
| at Livingston. NJ. II. Dr. Carver was out with
| Coles giving exhibitions OF glass
| ball shooting, and that was more drawing card
| than the menagere or tumbiing. or even the
| horseback riding Bright and early the cowboys
| came in from the ranges from a hundred miles
| around, many having been the saddle all
| night The quick work of the Doctor command
| ed general admiration. and he was lauded freely.
for while the cattle herderS all crack shots
| with the rifle and Colts revolver. they knew at
! once they had not the ghost of q chance against
| the man whom MIR. Cole had introduced into the
| Territory
Just after the doctor had finished his exhibit
| tion Marquis De Mores, the cattle baron of Da-
| kota, approached him and said that he had a
| man he would like to match for a thousand or SO
| at glass ball shooting. Carver was not making
matches just then. but he eourteously agreed to
accommodate the Marquis and his man. Whis-
| pers were then going around that Yellowstone
| Vic was the unknown, and few bets we're
| made at par. In half an hour both men were
| ready. and rode out of the canvas covering three
| bippodromes out a level piece of ground.
The way those two handled their re-
spective horses caused the lveliest cheering and
| Then as the contest began mirth was suppressed
| by keen excitement.
Cowboys always want the best man to win.
| and though they felt the honor that would be
| conferred upon them by a victory for their own
| man, they never once animated their desire to
see Vic triumphant. 1t was the closest contest
| DR.. Carver had for it was tie. anu when the
match had ended the two men shook HANDS. and
the Doctor said, You're the best man ever
met, Mr.. Smith, and though 1t is a tie, I'm salts
fed to let it remain so.
"This little speech was hailed by loud demon
strations of approval, and then Carver asked Vic
| if he could not travel with him. but as VIC was
chartered to MARQUIS De Mores for bear hunt
| he could not join the circus.
'.Vlc Smith is famous character in the
Northern Territories. and though he is less than
thirty five years of age, his experience as gov
eminent scout has given him wider knowledge
of the country along the Missouri and Yellow
stone rivers. the Big and Little Horn, and Pow
der, NIusselshell and Tongue rivers than any
man in Montana or Dakota. l spent day in
Vic's company last summer, and be told me an
event in his life that remarkable as 1t
was interesting He born in Milwaukee.
and away from home at the age of
thirteen. When seventeen he was carry
Devils lake. and Grand Forks. The
city of Grand Forks then only a wolf
station. That is, there was only shed for
travellers put up at, and ann for who
poisoned wolves for a living during the winter.
They received bounty money for each tail and
sold the pets and they did quite well during the
fall and winter 1t in the fall when the
frosts heavy and biting cold. that rich
prospector named Brown arrived at the wolf
station, and told the that he was looking
for land. He intimated that he had So 600 UPON
him. and was anxions to have 1t laid away IN
some secure place for the several days he would
remain in camp The men We're all supposed to
be honest ana the Traveller had no fear.
In the camp a dissolute man named Rob
inson. who had been lounging about for month
and making himself generally obnoxious to the
other men, Brown had been in camp three days
when Robinson took leave of the men with the
remark that he was going up TO the fort. which
WAS 120 miles distant and three days ride.
Vic was out day and half from Fort Absr-
crombie with mis- mail. and was riding along at
easy cauter when Robinson rode up. Halo.
Vic, he says, that's nice horse you're riding
Vic answered that it was but thought Robin
sons was much better one. Then the latter
proposed trade and to hurry up a bar
accepted at once and they were parting
Robinson handed him pistol. which he told him
to put in his saddle-pouch. Vic Was very happy
when he pulled up at the next dog station
about shutdown, and set to work preparing his
supper of bacon and bread. He had just finished
his repast when half a dozen wolf men came up
to the door. They did not speak. and after
waiting some time for them to make some re-
mark, Vic told them, if they wanted any supper,
they could come in and cook it for themselves.
There's lots of bacon and flour. so help your
selves he said. They looked at each other and
then roared with laughter. You've got con-
siderable gall. youngster,' they said. and then
stepped in and took him out of
the shanty. They bound him hand and
foot and then driving stake into the
T.
and prepared their supper. Vic was young.
though spirited, and he begged that they would
not leave him In that position all night, for he
would freeze. They would hold no conversation
with him. but turned in and slept until morning.
When day broke they arose and found Vic numb
and apparently fIfeless His limbs were swollen
to twice their size from the hemp which had
been tied tightly around them. He was in a
frlghtful condition, and his long, black, glossy
hair was turned to white; not black hair could
be seen. One old man in the party took COM
passion on him and loosened his hands A con-
sultation was held and it decided to hang
him
He told them. but they did not believe his story.
Then it Just dawned upon MIN til the horse he
got from Robinson was not his property He
correct in his surmises. Brown left camp
the day after Robinson did, and the latter,
knowing that Brown intended passing along the
trail next day, lay IN wait and murdered him.
traveller, passing after, noticed the body and
informed the wolf men at the station. They
started out Immediately to find the murderer.
and seeing Vic with Browns horse, supposed
they had the right man.
''Vic pleaded with tears in his eyes and asked
them to go up to the fort and ask the officers
there whether he had not left there only two
days since
the old nah said they should give him that little
show for his life, and the others acQuiesced.
They decided to take him within six miles of the
fort, and wait there while one man went up and
inquired what time Vic had left This done,
and Vc's life saved But what really saved
him was the absence of trees where he had been
taken. for had there been about his execu-
ton would have taken place that night. Since
that time Vic Smith has been the terror of vigi-
lance committees in the Territory. He has no
respect for any of them, and would go miles to
member lassoed. For the past years
he has been employed by the Marquis De Mores
and Theodore Roosevelt of New York, who give
him $40 for every bear he steers them against"
Salt in the Garden.
Worth. London horticultural Times
Thirty years successful of salt upon all
kinds of crops has proved Its value to 1t
should not be used upon cold heavy moist
Soils and, if any one does he will be disappoint-